Who won 2024 WCWS? History of championship series ahead of Texas-Texas Tech finals
For the first time since 2021, a new Women's College World Series national champion will emerge by the end of the week.
That's because Patty Gasso and Oklahoma softball were eliminated in the WCWS semifinal on June 2 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. The Sooners had won four consecutive championships from 2021 until last season, when they swept Red River rival Texas in the championship series.
Not counting the canceled 2020 college softball season, this will be the first time since 2019 that Oklahoma has not at least appeared in the WCWS finals. Moreover, the championship series will not feature one of Oklahoma, UCLA, Florida State or Florida for the first time since the 2008 Women's College World Series. Arizona State defeated Texas A&M that season to collect the national championship.
Here's what you need to know about who won the 2024 WCWS ahead of the championship series between Teagan Kavan and the Texas Longhorns against NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech:
Who won the 2024 WCWS?
Oklahoma posted a 5-1 record at the 2024 WCWS, which included a two-game sweep of Texas in the championship series. The Sooners' lone loss during the tournament was a 9-3 defeat by Florida in the semifinals. However, the Sooners bounced back with a 6-5 win to advance to the championship series.
The Sooners were not afforded the usual day off between the semifinals and the start of the championship series due to a lightning delay during the semifinals, resulting in a significant schedule adjustment. Meanwhile, Texas did get its day after beating Canady and Stanford in the semifinal.
(Curiously, the Longhorns will face off against Canady again in the 2025 WCWS finals, though this time she will lead the Red Raiders in their bid for a national championship).
The Sooners had no issues with the Longhorns in 2024, earning 8-3 and 8-4 victories over two days to win the national championship, their fourth in a row. Tiare Jennings, Kinzie Hansen, and Kasidi Pickering each hit home runs in Game 1 for OU, while Kelly Maxwell delivered a complete-game performance.
In Game 2, four Oklahoma pitchers combined for the win, but it was Maxwell who pitched the final 1 1/3 innings to pick up the save. Pickering hit her second home run of the championship series and Cydney Sanders drove in three runs.
NCAA softball champions
Here's a look at the last 10 national champions. For a full list of NCAA softball champions, click here.
- 2024: Oklahoma defeats Texas
- 2023: Oklahoma defeats Florida State
- 2022: Oklahoma defeats Texas
- 2021: Oklahoma defeats Florida State
- 2020: Canceled due to COVID-19
- 2019: UCLA defeats Oklahoma
- 2018: Florida State defeats Washington
- 2017: Oklahoma defeats Florida
- 2016: Oklahoma defeats Auburn
- 2015: Florida defeats Michigan
Schools with most NCAA softball championships
UCLA has 12 national championships, which leads all Division I schools. The Bruins also have an additional national championship in 1978 when the AIAW oversaw the sport and won another in 1995, which was later vacated.
The NCAA in 1982 began governing the sport of softball. Here is the list of schools with the most softball championships:
- 1. UCLA: 12
- T-2. Arizona: 8
- T-2. Oklahoma: 8
- T-4. Arizona State: 2
- T-4. Florida: 2
- T-4. Texas A&M: 2
- T-7. Alabama: 1
- T-7. Cal State Fullerton: 1
- T-7. Cal: 1
- T-7. Florida State: 1
- T-7. Fresno State: 1
- T-7. Michigan: 1
- T-7. Washington: 1